Automatic air valve



June 8 1926,

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June 8 1926.

A. HARRISON AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4'. 1921.

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Patented June S,

AMOS HARRISON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

.ASSGNOR TO JAS. E. MARSH & COMPANY,

F CHICAS-G, ILLNOIS, A' COREORATION OF ILLINOIS.

.AUTOMATIC .AER VALVE.

Application filed June Il,

My invention belongs to that general class ot' devices known as automatic air valves, and relates particularly to a valve Yfor permitting the escape ,o't' air from a radiator or the like, but which will prevent the escape or loss of steam when the same reaches the automatic valve. rhe same also may be arranged to permit the escape et the air, but automatically prevent the air from reenter'- ing the valve and radiator when the steam pressure drops. The invention has among its objects the production of a device ot the kind described which is simple, compact, efficient, durable, noiseless, inexpensive and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. It has among its further objects the production et' a valve which is automatically operable to prevent the escape. of steam or water from the system, but which will not water-log. It has also as an object the production ot a constructionot the kind described by means et which the air cannot reenter the valve, and consequently the steam will be retained in the radiator when the pressure drops, forming a partial vacuum, which will cause the more rapid operation ot the heating system when the pressure again rises. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination ot parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a sectional view through my improved automatic valve;

Y Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially ou line 2-2 ot F ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a slightly different construction;

Fig. 5 is a similar view ot another construction; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion oit' a valve illustrating a slightly modified construction.

In the drawings I have illustrated only a te i embodiments of the invention for the nurpesee el? illustration.

1021. Serial No. 474,893.

Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 represents a casing or shell et suitable size, shape and material, provided with suitable end closures. As illustrated, the closures in this Jform are made separate from the body part l and suitably secured thereto in any desired manner. At the bottom l arrange an end closure 2, which may be a stamping, shown, or cast, this being immaterial in so far as the operation ot the device is concerned. There is also provided a top closure portion 3, which is extended as at 4, and may be termed similar to the part 2, or in any equivalent manner. rl`he bottom part 2 is provided with an inlet 5, 6 being an extending` portion secured thereto and threaded as shown, to engage in the radiator, pipe or the like.

i/trranged within the casing is what may be termed a thermo-disk 8, constructed to expand or contract upon variation of the temperature within the casing. Usually, the thermostatic member or disk 8 is chambered and lilled with an expansible liquid. As shown, the thermostatic member 8 is mounted on an extending portion 7 in the bottom et part 2, the same being retained in place thereon by a part 9, which may be termed a cage, which is {ianged over or provided with prongs which will engage the disk and retain it in place, preventing its disarrangement. rlhe disk 8 carries a tubular stem 10, the lower end of which is offset as at 11, and thence turned down at 12, the same formingsubstantially a siphon, as will be hereinafter described. Also arranged within the casing and surrounding the tubular stem or tube 10 is a tubular part 15 which may loosely set upon the thermo disk 8, and which carries a float member 18. The tubular part 15 is provided with one or more openings 16 at the bottom, and one or more ports or openings 17 at the top, and carries a valve member 19 arranged on the part 20 carried by the tube and movable therewith.

Arranged in the part 4; or neck of the top closure is a valve seat member 21 arranged to cooperate with the valve 19 and automatically control the passage oit the air trom the casing. ris shown, part 21 is chambered at 24, 23 being` a connecting` passage, thel inner end et which is arranged as at 25 and the outer end as at 26. The: end 27 ot the valve member t1Q, 19 being substantially" a stem, is arranged to cooperate at the ingr when the di j. l l

raised, as Will be described in the operation ot the device. Arranged in the chamber or recess is a valve member 28, which is provided to prevent re-admission otV air into the easing w ien there is a partial vacuum formed therein owing;` to the drop in steam pressure. its shovcn, the valve 28 is reversible se that either end may be used. The sa ie may be maintained in place by one or more cross wires or equivalent means tor the purpose. ReierrinT to Fig. l, it will be noted that the member 2l is provided with an attending;` portion 29 projecting inwardly and ot less diameter than the outer portion, which is eonstrueted to engage the threads on the inner side of the projecting; part a. I prefer to arrange a part 30 on the reduced part 29, which iviil engage with the threads in the portion et and prevent leakage ot air or steam thereat. [is shown, part 30 is preterabl-v mounted or cast on the portion 2S), and consists a suitable deformable material, preferably Zinc or the lil-te, vvhieh be turned down in place, the outer surface ot the samev being;` initially smooth, but which will permit the threads on the portion ft cutting thread in the part SO, thereby affording a tight, leak-proof lit. there material oi lov.Y coei'iicient ot expansion is user. tor the )art 30, the saine may tit substantially' tight, and yet when ther valve is hot, the part 2t may be adjusted up or down Wit-heut any amount oft dittieulty.

As shown, i provide a cap 3l tor the extendingI part t, the saine preferably having; an opening 3Q therein. The cap 31 may be threaded upon the portion 3, or simply slipped on vvith a tight lit as shovvn` in F l'. At the inlet 5 l preter to provide a tube Bet, which may be termed a Siphon tube, the inner end ot Wlrieh preferably extends to adjacent the end the part l2 et the inner tut is adaptedy to extend into a radiator, pipe or The tube may be the l-illi'e below the inlet e. secured in place by a transverse pin 3G or equiv alent means fln the ogieratiei'i the device, as ster-Jin is admitted to the 'adiatoig the air therein, it any, enters the .inlet 5, I )asses tlrroiujhk the casing, past the val-ve Q7, throng-jh the.' out-'t 23", past in .'ve' member and out 'through the opening' to the. atniosphere. Should' anyf steanr be admitted to the easing;v l, the saine immediately acts on the thermo or eX- pansioir d' which inl expandine` raises the tube o, thereby raising' theA valve portio'ir ligand brin-Wing: the valve 217 into Closed position, and maintain-ing' it .in such position as. long' as there is steam in the automatic valve. Should' the pressure drop in the tem the valve cools ott, the thermo dil: contracts, thereby. moving,` valve 2 toits open position. air to the valve Will be prevented by the and the extreme outer end 3110i? Whichllmvever, the admission ot' valve 28, it employed as shown, so that a partial vacuum is termed in the casing, l. and radiator, s that when the pressure in the system again comes up, the movement oi' the .steam to the radiator will be accelerated. Also the Ires-sure decreases, as beitorc mentioned, the Withdrawal ot the uncondensed steam trom the radiator vuil] be retai-ded due to the partial vacuum reterred to. Should su'ttieient `vater enter the casing); l to raise the float, movement ot the float will raise the tub-e l5, therei'iy closing valve 2T, previously mentioned. Escape ot water trein the casing is facilitated by means ot the Siphon tube 34. Should there be any quantity et water in the easing, the entering steam or air can pass up through the portions 12 and il., and thence to the inner tube it), or in the tube l5 about the tube l0, above the level et the contained Water, thereby breaking the air lock, so that the Water vvill tier-7 or drain oli through the opening,Y 5, tor r .r-ipie, through the tube 34. Should the arer rise arbore the' ports l?, the steamr or r pressure would cause the Water irough the port l? and out through u tuoe l0, or between thetube l0 and the se thereby draining' the valve fithout Watereogging. It is immaterial through whieh tube or space thel ai-r or Water travels, or in which direction, as the saline will be siphoned bach, to the peculiar action', iu either that it in'ipossible tor the valve to Water-log. ior any period ot time,` '.fardl-ss oit eondit-ions. it has been the valvel is noiseless and tree trein chattering.

In the construction. shown in Fig. 4,. t() represents a .shell provided with the heads tl and 42, providing a ehainbered casing. Head t2 isprovided'` with the extend-ingl portion a3, and the lower head tl with the projecting part dlt at the inlet I have shown a siphon tube t6 similar to the tube 34 pre viously described. Arranged Within the casing is a. thermostatie or expansion dish t7 arranged upon and n'iaintained in place by the retainer or cage 18. rihe disk 4T carries the tube 49,- being,- a port taking. the place ot the extended parts ll.v and 122 shown in the previous construction. The disk /l-T carries the tube '5l having the ports 52 and 5S, and provided@ withv a suitable float 5d. Tube 5l carries the stem constirueted at its end to provide aivalvearrz d'to'crmperaftewith the plug` or discharge member 56, provided Wilt-lr the duet or por! 5T similar to* tbe other construction previously described. In this case, the. portion 56 is of reduced size as com-pared with the head 5S and: projects through .a nut or Washer 59 carried on the part 43. Arranged between the head 58 and the nut 59v is packing-60 of suitable material, either in the torni of rings', or a twine lWound around the same. I also prefer to providellt) a ring 6l between the head 58 and the packing, so that in a ljusting the member the same will not tend to disarrange or injure the packing. Obviously, as the nut is adjusted, the packing prevents leakage through the valve other than through the port 57, which is controlled by the valve at the end of the stem 55. Vith this construction, 62 represents'a cap which is threaded on the interior and engages a collar 63 having a suitable thread and secured to the part 48. The cap 62 is provided with a port 64, 65 being a washer of suitable material, preferably packing material, which will bear down on the end of the part 43 when the cap is turned down, so as to entirely prevent the passage of steam or air in either direction from or into the casing. It' desired, a valve 66 may also be provided, automatically preventing the admission of air. I have shown the cap 62 as provided with the portion 67, secured in place by pins 68 or the equivalent which forms a linger hold on the cap so that the same may be turned to control the escape of air from the casing. If desired, an indicator 69 may be provided on the cap, the same being adapted to cooperate with suitable characters indicating open or closed (not shown) on the upper face 70 of the end portion 42. The operation of this type of valve is substantially similar to that described. However, in this case, the valve not only automatically controls the escape of air and steam, but the same may be entirely closed so that a certain amount of air may be retained and trapped in the radiator so as to control the radiating` area, effective when the steam is on.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 is more or less similar, except that a slightly modiied type of casing is shown and the packing about the plug at the top is also of a modilied construction. Referring to this figure, 72 represents a tubular shell provided with the lower end closure 7 3, the upper end 74 being of a reduced size and of the desired length. The casing is provided with the portion 75 at the inlet 76 for attachment to the radiator, and if desired, the tube 77 may also be provided. I have shown a thermo disk 79 arranged in the cage 78, and tube 8() having a port. 8l and similar to the previ.- ons construction described, Arranged about the tube 8() is a tube 82 having the ports 88 and 84, and carrying float 85. Valve member 86 is carried by the tube and is arranged to cooperate with the adjustable plug 87. Plug 87 has the inner end reduced and projects into the part 88, between which and the plug is arranged packing, consisting of the packing members 89 and 90. Any suitable packing may be employed, and if desired a metallic type of packing` may be employed. In this construction a push cap 9i having an opening 92 is arranged over the open end of the valve. The valve may also be provided for preventing the admission of air, as is shownin the ligure. The operation of this type of valve is substantially similar to that previously described.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6, 93 represents the casing which is provided with a neck 94, preferably enlarged as .at 94 so as the form a shoulder at the inside between the ends, thc portion 94 being internally threaded, as shown. Arranged in theneck 94 is a plug 95, which is formed with a head and with a shoulder 95', the lower portion of the plug being threaded to engage the threads in the neck. Packing 96 is arranged, as shown, to prevent the leakage between the plug and neck. The plug is ap-ertured and provided with th-e recesses 97 and 97, preferably formed with valve seats. The cap 98 is provided with an opening or vent 99. The cap 98 may be secured in place by a friction lit, or soldered or brazed in place, as may be desired. It is believed that the construction will be obvious, the valve stem 19 representing any of the valves previously described, and which is controlled by the mechanism within the device. A check valve similar to that shown in any of the other figures may be arranged in the recess 97 so as to make a vacuum valve if so desired.

Having thus descibed my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifica tions may be made in th-e same various immaterial moditications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

that I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An automatic. air valve comprising a casing having an air and liquid inlet at its bottom and an outlet near its top, a tubular float in said casing spaced from the wall thereof, a hollow core extending longitudinally through said float and an open-ended tube within said core, said core being apertured atits top and bottom so as to always be open at said points, and said tube eX- tending from adjacent said inlet to adjacent the top apertures of said core.

2. An automatic air valve comprising a casing having an air and. liquid inlet at its bottoni and an outlet near its top, a tubular float centrally in said casing and spaced from the casing wall, a hollow core extending aXial ly through said float and apertured at its top above said float and at its bottom end below said float so as to be 4always openat said pointes, and an open-ended tube'anially with in said core and spaced from the inner wall thereof and ext-ending from adjacent said.

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inlet' to just below the topy apertures of said core.

3. An a'ntonnitie wir vaive comprising a cssing. havingi an' ziii` and liquid inlet at its bottoni :ind en air outlet near its top, a float within said casing und spaced from the Wall thereof, e hollow corer extending centrally through sind l'lozit and epertnred at both ends, the ripper apertor'e being above said float and the lower aperture :irrangedto be open all times;v and an open-ended t-nbe positioned centrally through. said core, spaced troni thev Wall thereof` und having its; upper' end jsustbelow upper aperture oil said Core' and its lower end extended through seid* Core to zidjn'cent seid inlet.-

L. Anf sliit'oinzrtie nir valve comprising a' cnfsingf haring ein' air andv liquid inlet at itsbottoni and an. air outlet neer its top5 zu float' within seid casing and spaced troni the wall: thereot,. n' hollow core e'tendinfg axially through said float and being zipertn-retl: at both ende, an open ended tube*Yextending` axially oli sei-d core spaced from the Wall thoieot and" lie-ving' its lower end extended thereth'lron'gh. the top o'f said tn-be being' below the' top apertures of the core, and :itnls'e' positioned inl said inlety and extending downwardly rnd outwardly tliereotf, Where-A bj; the' lfiqnidf in sziidv causingV will be siphoned downwardly O'f casing, and oi-i-twardl-y throiig'lif said' lzrst mentioned tube by the air entering said? casing through Sali-d' inlet.

,fi-ir irntoinoticf :tir Valve comprising: a

casing having; an a'ir and liquid inlet at its bottom end and. :in outlet' near its top, ai tn-a lonlo'r float centrally insaid easing. and spaced from -the casing wall' toA forni anl annular chamber therewith,` zihollow core extending axially through Said! i'loat and a'pertnred at its* topund bottoni endsV S'oas toA bealways open at said points,y and an open-ended. t-nhe axially withinseid Core and forming n, .chainbei' With the" inner Core Nn-lli, saidtube eX- ten'd'ing troni below the upper aperture ot said c '-)re th-rough the lower aperture to adjacent seid i-n-let,1whereby liquidy in said Cas-z ing will be siphoneddownwardlylot' saidV easing through either of said chambers and ont through saide inlet by the rising air en tering, through said inlet.

6'. An efii-toinatic iii-r valve eoinpxiising :1A

casing having an air and liquid inlet at itsV bottoni and in air outlet adjacent its' top, a tient within.' said? casing and spaced from the' welllthereof7 e.' hollow Core extendingy axially through said' float zindnp'ertn-red at bothv ends; 2i turbe open et Aboth. its ends ai'- re-i'itedf fl-ly ywitl'iin said 4core and spaced troni the well theieot` and haif'ing. its lower end extended theretlnfongh, the top of seid tube beingl below'7 the top pertnre of the core, nel` ther-inostetielne'ans for controlling the tient. v I K y In testimony wliereo'ii'. l. have hereunto signed my name.v

AMS HARRISON. 

